Vodacom Super Rugby
Brussow is top S15 tackler
2012-04-10 11:17
Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – South African loose forwards are excelling for
their high tackle counts in the first few weeks of Super Rugby 2012.
Three “loosies” from our neck of the woods feature among the
top five customers for most tackles made after seven rounds of the competition
– with the Cheetahs’ dynamic Springbok open-sider Heinrich Brussow leading the
way.
The nuggety No 6, according to statistics published in the
Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday, has made 112 tackles.
He is hotly pursued by Marcell Coetzee, the Sharks youngster
who continues to develop nicely in his maiden season at this level, with 109.
Next comes the Force’s Zimbabwean-born fetcher David Pocock
(102), with the Chiefs’ big lock Brodie Retallick lying fourth on 96.
The log-leading Stormers have their own flag-carrier among
the top five in this department, with Siya Kolisi sharing fifth position with
another Chiefs player in Liam Messam (92 each).
Industrious Coetzee hurt a shoulder in the Sharks’
disappointing loss to the Hurricanes and is reportedly in some doubt for the
last tour game against the Blues in Auckland on Friday.
Meanwhile Brussow ought to get the chance to build on his
proud tackle count when the Cheetahs entertain the Chiefs in an important clash
in Bloemfontein on Saturday – the home side will be doing compatriots the
Stormers, in particular, a favour if they knock over the best-performing New
Zealand outfit at present.